Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:  Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;  Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;  Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Vision Changes in Middle Adulthood  Presbyopia  Problems reading small print  Bifocals if nearsighted  Difficulties in dim light  Reduced color discrimination  Glaucoma risk  Presbyopia  Problems reading small print  Bifocals if nearsighted  Difficulties in dim light  Reduced color discrimination  Glaucoma risk

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hearing Changes in Middle Adulthood  Gender, cultural differences  Men lose more hearing  Hearing aids can help  Gender, cultural differences  Men lose more hearing  Hearing aids can help  Presbycusis - “old hearing”  Earliest, most loss in high frequencies  Presbycusis - “old hearing”  Earliest, most loss in high frequencies

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Skin Changes in Middle Adulthood  Wrinkles  Forehead – starting in 30s  Crow’s Feet - 40s  Sagging  Face, arms, legs  Age Spots  After age 50  Faster with sun exposure, for women  Wrinkles  Forehead – starting in 30s  Crow’s Feet - 40s  Sagging  Face, arms, legs  Age Spots  After age 50  Faster with sun exposure, for women

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Muscle-Fat Makeup in Middle Adulthood  Middle-age spread common – fat gain in torso  Men: upper abdomen, back  Women: waist, upper arms  Very gradual muscle declines  Can be avoided  Low-fat diet with fruits, vegetables, grains  Exercise - resistance training

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Should You Cut Calories?  Restricted diet helps diverse animals  Longer life  Less disease  Natural human experiments show benefits  Okinawa  Biosphere  Hard for many people to do  Calorie-restriction mimetics may work

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Climacteric and Menopause  Gradual end of fertility  Menopause follows 10–year climacteric  Age range extends from late thirties to late fifties  Drop in estrogen  Shorter monthly cycles, eventually stop  Can cause problems  Sexual functioning  Cholesterol  Gradual end of fertility  Menopause follows 10–year climacteric  Age range extends from late thirties to late fifties  Drop in estrogen  Shorter monthly cycles, eventually stop  Can cause problems  Sexual functioning  Cholesterol

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Menopausal Symptoms Research shows menopause link  Hot flashes/night sweats  Sexual problems Not linked to menopause, other causes should be investigated  Irritability  Sleep difficulties  Depression

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Menopause Symptoms Around the World

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hormone Therapy for Menopause Benefits  Reduces hot flashes, vaginal dryness  May help mood  Bone benefits Risks  Heart attack, stroke, blood clots  Cancer  Cognitive declines, Alzheimer’s Alternatives  Gabapentin for hot flashes  Antidepressants  Black cohosh

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reactions to Menopause  Individual differences  Importance of child-bearing capacity  Other interests  Cultural differences  Medicalization in industrial West linked to complaints  Ethnic differences in North America  Social status of aging women linked to reactions  Individual differences  Importance of child-bearing capacity  Other interests  Cultural differences  Medicalization in industrial West linked to complaints  Ethnic differences in North America  Social status of aging women linked to reactions

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Male Reproductive Changes in Middle Adulthood  Reduced sperm and semen after 40  Gradual testosterone reduction  Sexual activity stimulates production  Reduced sperm and semen after 40  Gradual testosterone reduction  Sexual activity stimulates production  Erection Problems  Frequent problems may be linked to anxiety, diseases, injury, loss of interest  Viagra & other drugs  Erection Problems  Frequent problems may be linked to anxiety, diseases, injury, loss of interest  Viagra & other drugs

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Health in Middle Age  Over 80% rate as good or excellent  Decline from early adulthood  More chronic diseases than in early adulthood  Over 80% rate as good or excellent  Decline from early adulthood  More chronic diseases than in early adulthood

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sexuality in Middle Adulthood  Intensity of response declines  Slower arousal due to climacteric  Partner may seem less attractive  Sex still important, enjoyable to most  Gender differences in partner availability  Intensity of response declines  Slower arousal due to climacteric  Partner may seem less attractive  Sex still important, enjoyable to most  Gender differences in partner availability  Slight drop in frequency among married couples  Continue patterns from early adulthood  More sex in good marriages  Slight drop in frequency among married couples  Continue patterns from early adulthood  More sex in good marriages

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Leading Causes of Death in Middle Adulthood

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Cancer in Middle Adulthood  One-third of U.S. midlife deaths, half in Canada  More in lower SES  Results from mutations  Oncogenes  Tumor suppressor genes  Stability genes  Can be germline (genetic) or somatic  Often curable  Treatment and survival emotionally challenging  One-third of U.S. midlife deaths, half in Canada  More in lower SES  Results from mutations  Oncogenes  Tumor suppressor genes  Stability genes  Can be germline (genetic) or somatic  Often curable  Treatment and survival emotionally challenging

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Most Common Types of Cancer

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reducing Cancer Risks  Know 7 warning signs  Do self-exams  Get regular check- ups & screenings  Weigh risks of hormone therapy  Healthy diet  Know 7 warning signs  Do self-exams  Get regular check- ups & screenings  Weigh risks of hormone therapy  Healthy diet  Avoid:  Tobacco  Too much sun  Unnecessary X-rays  Industrial chemicals, pollutants

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Cardiovascular Disease  Symptoms  Heart attack  Angina pectoris – chest pain  Arrhythmia  Risk Conditions  High blood cholesterol  High blood pressure  Atherosclerosis  Symptoms  Heart attack  Angina pectoris – chest pain  Arrhythmia  Risk Conditions  High blood cholesterol  High blood pressure  Atherosclerosis

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reducing Heart Attack Risk  Quit smoking  Reduce cholesterol  Treat high blood pressure  Maintain ideal weight  Exercise regularly  Occasional wine or beer  Low-does aspirin  Reduce hostility, stress

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Osteoporosis  Severe bone loss, fragile bones  Bone breaks can be life-threatening  Causes:  Normal aging  With age, bones more porous, lose bone mass  Menopause estrogen drop speeds loss  Heredity, size  Lifestyle  Women develop earlier; men often overlooked  Severe bone loss, fragile bones  Bone breaks can be life-threatening  Causes:  Normal aging  With age, bones more porous, lose bone mass  Menopause estrogen drop speeds loss  Heredity, size  Lifestyle  Women develop earlier; men often overlooked

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis  Diet  Vitamin D  Calcium  Avoid too much alcohol  Avoid smoking  Weight-bearing exercise  Treatment: Bone-strengthening medications  Diet  Vitamin D  Calcium  Avoid too much alcohol  Avoid smoking  Weight-bearing exercise  Treatment: Bone-strengthening medications

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hostility and Health  Expressed Hostility  Frequent angry outbursts  Rudeness, contempt  Disagreeable verbal and nonverbal behavior  Health Effects  Cardiovascular problems  Health complaints, illnesses  Depression, dissatisfaction  Unhealthy behaviors  Expressed Hostility  Frequent angry outbursts  Rudeness, contempt  Disagreeable verbal and nonverbal behavior  Health Effects  Cardiovascular problems  Health complaints, illnesses  Depression, dissatisfaction  Unhealthy behaviors

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Managing Stress  Reevaluate the situation  Focus on events you can control  Consider alternatives  Exercise regularly  Relaxation techniques  Constructively reduce anger  Seek social support  Reevaluate the situation  Focus on events you can control  Consider alternatives  Exercise regularly  Relaxation techniques  Constructively reduce anger  Seek social support

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Problem- versus Emotion-Centered Coping Problem-Centered Coping  Identify and appraise problems  Choose and implement potential solutions Problem-Centered Coping  Identify and appraise problems  Choose and implement potential solutions Emotion-Centered Coping  Control distress when situation can’t be changed Emotion-Centered Coping  Control distress when situation can’t be changed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Midlife Exercise  Many physical and psychological benefits  Stress management  Barriers to beginning in middle age  Time, energy, health, lack of facilities  Self-efficacy  Both helps exercise and is improved by it  Choose activities that match personality, lifestyle  Many physical and psychological benefits  Stress management  Barriers to beginning in middle age  Time, energy, health, lack of facilities  Self-efficacy  Both helps exercise and is improved by it  Choose activities that match personality, lifestyle

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hardiness  Control  Regard most experiences as controllable  Commitment  Find interest and meaning in daily activities  Challenge  View as normal part of life, chance for growth  Control  Regard most experiences as controllable  Commitment  Find interest and meaning in daily activities  Challenge  View as normal part of life, chance for growth

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Double Standard of Aging  Aging men rated more positively; women more negatively  Evolutionary roots; media, social messages  May be declining  Aging men rated more positively; women more negatively  Evolutionary roots; media, social messages  May be declining

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Cohort Effects in Intelligence Studies

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence Fluid  Depends on basic information processing skills:  Detecting relationships among stimuli  Analytical speed  Working memory Fluid  Depends on basic information processing skills:  Detecting relationships among stimuli  Analytical speed  Working memory Crystallized  Skills that depend on:  Accumulated knowledge  Experience  Good judgment  Mastery of social conventions  Valued by person’s culture Crystallized  Skills that depend on:  Accumulated knowledge  Experience  Good judgment  Mastery of social conventions  Valued by person’s culture

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Individual and Group Factors in High Intelligence Scores  Lifestyle  High education  Complex job or leisure  Lasting marriage  High SES  Personal  Flexible personality  Healthy  Gender  Cohort  Perceptual speed  Personal  Flexible personality  Healthy  Gender  Cohort  Perceptual speed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Age-Related Slowing of Information Processing Neural Network View  Neurons in brain die, breaking neural connections  Brain forms new connections  New connections are less efficient Neural Network View  Neurons in brain die, breaking neural connections  Brain forms new connections  New connections are less efficient Information-Loss View  Information lost at each step through cognitive system  Whole system slows down to inspect, interpret information Information-Loss View  Information lost at each step through cognitive system  Whole system slows down to inspect, interpret information

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Changing Correlations of Processing Speed with Intelligence

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Attention in Middle Adulthood  More difficulties in  Multitasking  Focusing on relevant information  Switching attention  Connecting visual information  Inhibition  More difficulties in  Multitasking  Focusing on relevant information  Switching attention  Connecting visual information  Inhibition  May be linked to slower processing  Experience, practice, training help adults compensate  May be linked to slower processing  Experience, practice, training help adults compensate

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Memory in Middle Adulthood  Working memory decreases from 20s to 60s  Less use of memory strategies--may be due to slower processing, attention problems  Adults can compensate  Self-pacing  Strategy reminders  Relevant information  Few changes in:  Factual Knowledge  Procedural Knowledge  Metacognitive Knowledge  Working memory decreases from 20s to 60s  Less use of memory strategies--may be due to slower processing, attention problems  Adults can compensate  Self-pacing  Strategy reminders  Relevant information  Few changes in:  Factual Knowledge  Procedural Knowledge  Metacognitive Knowledge

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Practical Problem Solving and Expertise  Practical Problem Solving  Evaluate real-world situations  Achieve goals that have high uncertainty  Helped by expertise  Expertise  Extensive, highly organized knowledge base  Provides efficient, effective approaches to solving problems  Organized around abstract principles  Result of years of experience  Practical Problem Solving  Evaluate real-world situations  Achieve goals that have high uncertainty  Helped by expertise  Expertise  Extensive, highly organized knowledge base  Provides efficient, effective approaches to solving problems  Organized around abstract principles  Result of years of experience

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Changes in Creativity  More deliberate, thoughtful  Less spontaneous, intensely emotional  Sum up or integrate ideas  Less focus on unusual new ideas  Goals more altruistic  More deliberate, thoughtful  Less spontaneous, intensely emotional  Sum up or integrate ideas  Less focus on unusual new ideas  Goals more altruistic

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Vocational Life and Cognitive Development  Cognitive and personality characteristics affect job choice  Job, in turn, affects cognition  Complex work increases cognitive flexibility  Link to SES  Also seek intellectually stimulating leisure

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Becoming a Student in Midlife  40% of North American college students over age 25  60% are women  Reasons diverse  Job change, better income  Life transition  Personal achievement, self-enrichment  Concerns  Academic abilities  Aging, gender stereotypes  Role overload - balancing demands outside school  40% of North American college students over age 25  60% are women  Reasons diverse  Job change, better income  Life transition  Personal achievement, self-enrichment  Concerns  Academic abilities  Aging, gender stereotypes  Role overload - balancing demands outside school

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Possible Sources of Support for Midlife College Students  Partner  Children  Extended family  Friends  Educational institution  Workplace  Partner  Children  Extended family  Friends  Educational institution  Workplace